Fashion writer Robin Givhan, who is now covering the space for TheCut, sat in for a Reddit AMA session and did not hold back. At all! Here are some of our favorite questions and responses:
“[My job] has taught me a lot about quality. It has made me wish that I have way more money than I do. I try to buy strategically. I buy less than I did when I first started the beat. And I never try to be a fashion plate. That’s just not my personality. It’s not in my budget. And I think it’s unbecoming of a journalist.” –On how being a fashion critic impacts her own style
“The toughest was probably the first collection helmed by Donatella Versace after the murder of her brother, Gianni. Did the clothes even matter? Who could assess whether the collection was good or bad?” –Givhan’s most difficult collection to review
“I think the democratization of fashion has been a good thing because it means more people are engaged about fashion and more people have access to truly designed and thoughtful clothes. the downside, if there really is one is that i don’t know that the industry is full prepared for what it means to be speaking to a broad audience instead of a smaller club.” –On the democratization of fashion
“My favorite show to write about was Thom Browne because he gave me so much to think about, and I thought it was extremely appropriate that he had all of the fashion audience sitting in a white, padded cell.” –Givhan’s favorite show during NYFW
“Raf Simons has been doing some really interesting work at Dior. What I like about it — and this probably sounds a little cliche — but I think he’s bringing a sense of modernism to it.” –Opinion on Raf Simons at Dior.
“There have been times when, because I’m the only black woman in the room, people will ask my opinion on some race-related topic. And i fear they will then take my answer and extrapolate seem vast generalization about how all black women feel. And that is so far from reality that ….well, I don’t even have the words.”–On facing industry discrimination
“Fashion insiders always seem to get a bit perturbed when outsiders start to relate to fashion on their own terms rather than those dictated by magazines, retailers, editors, etc. While i don’t necessarily think that the all of the people who hover around the outsides of fashion shows are the most stylish or the most sophisticated in their displays, i find their energy and enthusiasm delightful.” Givhan’s take on Suzy Menkes’ Circus of Fashion piece, critical of crowds outside of shows
“Between Rodarte and Marc Jacobs, hands down the most disappointing for me was Rodarte. the Mulleavy sisters are extremely talented and they’ve set a high bar for themselves. so this season when they put spangly bras on the runway, my reaction was basically: Oh Lordy. what the heck?” Whether Rodarte or Marc Jacobs’ NYFW show disappointed her more.
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